Need help with the dormer design on my new house please...

11 years ago

We are currently drawing up plans for a new house. It has been sent to the development's architect for approval. He suggested we change the size of the 2 dormers above the garage door as seen on the left elevation. Basically our alternatives are this....

1) change the size of the garage dormers to match the dormer on the front elevation (to the left of the front door)
2) change the 2 garage dormers to 1 large shed dormer like the one on the other wall in that same room as seen on the right elevation
3) change the garage doors from 1 large/1 small to 3 garage doors of the same size and then place 3 small dormers above each garage door
4) change the garage doors from 1 large/1 small to 3 equivalent garage doors and have 1 large shed dormer above
5) leave as is

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated! :)

Featured Answer

PRO

Dytecture

11 years ago

I agree with ruthmand and go with Option 4 for a larger shed dormer same as the back side of the house with 3 separate garage doors.

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Comments (19)

ruthmand
11 years ago
A large shed dormer as in options 2 & 4 would give you more usable space in the room above the garage. It would also give you a roofline that repeats the linear line of the roof behind the very steep peak in your left elevation.
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PRO
Wow Great Place
11 years ago
Make that 3 of us in agreement....and I also like the 3 garage doors, as Dytecture illustrates.
Because your garage building is the first thing you see as you approach the house, I think having the large shed dormers on the front and back faces of the garage roof will create better symmetry. (Again, as illustrated so adeptly by Dytecture!)
Nice house btw!!
portpiro
11 years ago
I actually prefer the double door single door arrangement. I just don't see why you can't have 2 windows the same size above. Neither should be as large as the one on the left or as small as the one on the right but something uniform in between. That way you can retain the gables that go with the rest of your beautiful house.
PRO
Begonia Lopez
11 years ago
I think that option 4 is the best in keeping with proportions, an roof lines : large shed dormer, and three garage doors.
PRO
Universal Joint Design Associates
11 years ago
ack.

why not try 6) radical simplification by reducing "complex protuberances" and "complex connecting spaces" by 35+% and saving yourself 50 - 150 grand?
ruthmand
11 years ago
U-joint - great job! My sentiments exactly. All those gables just look like $$$ and do not seem to add very much visually. Also love the way you put it!
PRO
Universal Joint Design Associates
11 years ago
side and front
PRO
Carlsen & Frank Architects
11 years ago
There is a lot of roof action going on in your house. Generally, I'd advise simplifying and creating more order. A shed roof (more interior space) at the garage or 3 matching gables over 3 garage doors would move the design in this direction.
The narrow tower on the "left" elevation seems out of scale and a bit frail compared to the massive overall room forms. The front elevation could be simplified by merging the front gable roof and window next to it on the 2nd floor as shown in the attached sketch. Check out work of architect Edwin Lutyens who designed beautiful English Country Homes.
PRO
Universal Joint Design Associates
11 years ago
ah - lutyens...

nice.
PRO
Universal Joint Design Associates
11 years ago
altA, red1, red2
ruthmand
11 years ago
More great ideas and choice wording - I love it!
PRO
Universal Joint Design Associates
11 years ago
altB
User
Original Author
11 years ago
Wow! Thanks for all of the great feedback and new ideas!! Food for thought!! :)
1913willeau
9 years ago
Wow I am working on the same house situation trying to expand the bonus room and add light
User
Original Author
9 years ago
our house is now built. i ended up going with the 3 separate garage doors and large shed dormer on both sides. I put sliding doors on 1 shed dormer and made it a massive storage closet. I left the other shed dormer open and gives lots of light in the room.
Kristen S.
9 years ago
Any finished pictures? I am thinking of adding a dormer to our garage to connect to 2nd floor
User
Original Author
9 years ago
Yep! Will do tomorrow. You want exterior?
Kristen S.
9 years ago
Yes please!